What happened
On 24 July 2013, a BFC Challenger II, registration G-MZAC, was conducting a private flight near Warminster, Wiltshire. During the approach to a 500-metre grass airstrip, the pilot encountered a southerly wind of 8 knots, with gusts reaching 14 knots. The pilot performed a glide approach to the runway, which was oriented 09/27.
As the aircraft reached the flare, it ballooned approximately 3 to 4 feet above the surface. The pilot attempted to execute a go-around; however, the aircraft lost responsiveness to rudder pedal inputs and drifted to the right. This caused the aircraft to depart the runway and land on unprepared ground adjacent to the airstrip. The aircraft landed in a flat attitude while still in a crabbed position due to the crosswind. During the subsequent taxiing phase, the aircraft sustained damage to the nose landing gear, specifically a fractured nose leg and bent steering rods.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The examiner reviewed the flight conditions, the pilot's maneuvers during the flare, and the mechanical state of the aircraft. The investigation established that the pilot experienced difficulty maintaining directional control during the critical moments of the landing flare due to the wind conditions and the specific handling characteristics of the aircraft.
Findings
- The aircraft veered off the runway due to a loss of directional control following a ballooned flare.
- The pilot's decision to attempt a go-around after the aircraft ballooned contributed to the excursion.
- The pilot noted that a lack of recent practice with go-around maneuvers in this specific aircraft type was a factor.
- Concerns regarding potential adverse pitch effects from the high-mounted pusher engine influenced the pilot's decision-making during the approach.